It's almost instinctive. I can smell it in the air. As soon as the chill arrives, so too does the sweet, rosy fruit and its myriad of dessert combinations. It's the meeting of the soft, sweet fruit, still with a little bite and the crunchy, golden topping that sucks me in. Serve it to me with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream and I'm in heaven.
The morning chill that has been greeting me on my early walks got me thinking - yes a lot of my walk is spent thinking about food - why does apple crumble just have to be for dessert? I couldn't come up with a good answer.
Everyone seems to have their favourite apple. Royal Gala have been my favourite for as long as I can remember and every now and then I have a Granny Smith phase. The Galas so far this year have been so crisp and juicy, I'm yet to have a mushy one. You know the one - as soon as your teeth meet the skin, you feel it's a little softer than it should be. The worst is the floury apple - oh so disappointing if you were looking forward to it.
Anyway, I digress, back to the ANZAC apple crumble. Apple with muesli is a pretty common breakfast for me and really it's not that far away from apple crumble is it? Do you see where I'm going with this?
My ANZAC crumble topping is inspired by muesli and to keep it healthy enough for breakfast, I got rid of the regular fat and sugar of crumble topping and replaced it with coconut oil, apple sauce and honey. I really don't think you'll miss the butter and sugar.
It still has the sweetness of regular apple crumble and the essential crunch but comes together quickly and is good enough to make you think you're eating dessert first thing in the morning.
This spoonful went straight into my mouth as soon as I'd snapped the shot.
Then this happened. No, I didn't eat half the crumble while sitting on the floor with my camera still in one hand. Ok so I did. Don't judge me until you've tried it. You could quite easily serve this as dessert with some yoghurt to keep it healthy or coconut ice-cream (the stuff make from coconut milk) or go all out and have some ice-cream. It will be balanced out by the healthy dessert. Enjoy!
What about you. Which is your favourite apple? Do you have another favourite Autumn fruit?
On another note...
Happy Birthday little Sis!
My ANZAC apple crumble is my entry for this month's Sweet Adventures Blog Hop hosted by 84th & 3rd. The theme was seasonal and I couldn't think of a more fitting fruit. Don't forget to check out the rest of the entries for some great ideas on cooking and baking with seasonal produce. It's better for your budget, your health and the environment.
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Recipe

Ingredients
- 3 apples cored and diced
- ½ cup rolled oats
- ½ cup desiccated coconut
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil melted
- 2 tablespoon apple sauce
- 2 tablespoon honey melted
- sugar to sprinkle optional
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 175C fan-forced.
- Place the rolled oats and coconut in a medium bowl and stir to combine.
- In a small bowl, combine the coconut oil, apple sauce and honey.
- Divide the apple between 4 ¾ cup ramekins.
- Cover each one with ¼ of the oats mixture.
- Sprinkle the top of each one with a little sugar.
- Bake for 20 minutes or until golden.
- Serve warm.
Keely @ Gormandize says
Looks delicious! I generally use a variation on ANZAC biscuit mix for my crumble topping - it makes the tastiest and crunchiest topping! YUM.
Claire says
It has to be nice and crunchy doesn't it Keely?!
Heather says
great pics as always... isn't Autumn beautiful?
Claire says
Thanks Heather! It is a lovely season. The change of colours in the trees is just stunning!
JJ - 84thand3rd says
Um, topping pie with cookie mix, YES! And eating it for breakfast, well you know my opinion on that one ;D I must say, eating the props is easily my favourite part of blogging...
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef says
I'm making this for ANZAC Day ! I love apple crumble and now it's patriotic!
The Café Sucre Farine says
What a creative and delightful breakfast treat Claire. Your photos are captivating!
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella says
It was SO cold in Sydney today! I was freezing and totally unprepared for it. I would have loved to be armed with this :D
My Kitchen Stories says
You are brilliant. One of my most favourite things in the world is crumble. You have just made it OK , you have made it breakfast and dinner and I thank you. Great shots by the way, on the floor eating it you say?
Claire says
Yes on the floor (hangs head in shame).
Alison says
Snap! I put Anzac biscuit topping all over tinned peaches and baked it the other day! Yum!
Claire says
You beat me to it Alison. It's great isn't it?!
Hotly Spiced says
I love these photos! What a great breakfast and how timely! And happy birthday to your little sister xx
Claire says
Thanks Charlie!
Jess says
Oh how I envy the onset of cool weather. I wish it were fall here. But no dice - just hot, hot, and more hot. ;) I've been known to eat a few dishes on the floor, camera still in hand - glad I'm not the only one.
Claire says
Haha oh I'm glad to here you say that. Usually I just want a little taste, then it's all down hill from there!